Q&A: Lectionary Readings, Baptism, and Biblical Sacrifice

E234 - Jesus Doesn’t Think You’re An Idiot | Rev. Rob Merola | Sunday, July 12th, 2026

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!” “Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” ⁠stmtts.org ⁠ [https://www.stmtts.org/]| ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/pg/StMatthewsEpiscopalChurch/videos/?ref=page_internal] | ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stmttssterling/] | ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/user/StMatthewsSterling/live]

Q&A: Politics and Christianity, Widows and Orphans, and Rob's Vacation

What questions did Sunday's sermon raise for you? In this week's Q&A episode, Fr. Rob and Rev. Josh continue the conversation from Sunday's sermon, exploring questions submitted by members of the St. Matthew's community. This week, they revisit "E233 - Law and Order", originally preached on Sunday, July 5th, and discuss topics including: * Father Rob's vacation musings * Why does the Bible emphasize widows and orphans so much? * What does Christianity look like under a changing government? Listen to the original sermon here: ⁠ E233 - Law and Order⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5XK1wMv3RgGWWuiLhbV1gb?] Have a question for a future episode? Submit it anonymously at: ⁠stmtts.org/question⁠ [stmtts.org/question] Join us for worship each Sunday at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM | 201 E. Frederick Drive, Sterling, VA 20164 Learn more: ⁠stmtts.org ⁠⁠ [https://www.stmtts.org/]|⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/pg/StMatthewsEpiscopalChurch/videos/?ref=page_internal] |⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stmttssterling/] |⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/user/StMatthewsSterling/live]

E233 - Law and Order | Rev. Josh House | Sunday, July 5th, 2026

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Jesus said to the crowd, “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” ⁠stmtts.org ⁠ [https://www.stmtts.org/]| ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/pg/StMatthewsEpiscopalChurch/videos/?ref=page_internal] | ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stmttssterling/] | ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/user/StMatthewsSterling/live]

Q&A: Judas' Forgiveness, Goodness, Deacons, and Anglican vs. Episcopal

What questions did Sunday's sermon raise for you? In this week's Q&A episode, Rev. Josh and special guest Kathleen continue the conversation from Sunday's sermon, exploring questions submitted by members of the St. Matthew's community. This week, they revisit "E232 - Finding Goodness", originally preached on Sunday, June 28th, and discuss topics including: * If Josh was ordained, why is he still called a Deacon and not a pastor/priest? * What is the difference between the Anglican and Episcopal churches? * Was Judas forgiven? Listen to the original sermon here: E232 - Finding Goodness [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5XK1wMv3RgGWWuiLhbV1gb?] Have a question for a future episode? Submit it anonymously at: stmtts.org/question [stmtts.org/question] Join us for worship each Sunday at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM | 201 E. Frederick Drive, Sterling, VA 20164 Learn more: stmtts.org ⁠ [https://www.stmtts.org/]| ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/pg/StMatthewsEpiscopalChurch/videos/?ref=page_internal] | ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stmttssterling/] | ⁠YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/StMatthewsSterling/live]

E232 - Finding Goodness | Rev. Rob Merola | Sunday, June 28th, 2026

Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” ⁠stmtts.org ⁠ [https://www.stmtts.org/]| ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/pg/StMatthewsEpiscopalChurch/videos/?ref=page_internal] | ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stmttssterling/] | ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/user/StMatthewsSterling/live]